Demography and lifetime growth patterns in viviparous salamanders (genus Lyciasalamandra): Living underground attenuates interspecific variation

Sinsch, Ulrich; Böcking, Helen; Leskovar, C.; Öz, Mehmet; Veith, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2017.07.005

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…[57]), we consider these data as proxies to micro-climatic conditions. This is a crucial point to mention, especially with regard to Lyciasalamandra species, because part of their life these amphibians exploit deep-reaching systems of crevices in karstic limestone systems [3,27,63]. We defend our approach, as micro-climatic data for the focal taxa are not available and Rödder et al [26] have shown that macro-climate can be effectively used for the computation of Lyciasalamandra SDMs.…”

Section: Modelling Of Current and Past Species Distributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on demographic and growth pattern analyses, [27] recently showed that the mainly subterranean life-style of Lycian salamanders in deep-reaching systems of crevices allows them to survive both cold winter and dry and hot summer. They observed a very small age-and size-related life-history variation across populations and species and concluded that this hints at a pronounced niche conservatism in Lyciasalamandra.…”

Section: Potential Range Dynamics During the Quaternarymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further support for intra-generic climate niche conservatism comes from a study on demographic life-history parameters. Sinsch and co-authors [27] found that detectable differences in life history traits among populations of different species and subspecies are mainly due to variation in the period of surface activity rather than being the result of fundamental differences in their ecological adaptation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Phylogeographic analyses point to long-term survival on the spot in micro-endemic Lycian salamanders

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lycian salamanders (genus Lyciasalamandra) constitute an exceptional case of microendemism of an amphibian species on the Asian Minor mainland. These viviparous salamanders are confined to karstic limestone formations along the southern Anatolian coast and some islands. We here study the genetic differentiation within and among 118 populations of all seven Lyciasalamandra species across the entire genus' distribution. Based on circa 900 base pairs of fragments of the mitochondrial 16SrDNA and ATPase genes, we analysed the spatial haplotype distribution as well as the genetic structure and demographic history of populations. We used 253 geo-referenced populations and CHELSA climate data to infer species distribution models which we projected on climatic conditions of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Within all but one species, distinct phyloclades were identified, which only in parts matched current taxonomy. Most haplotypes (78%) were private to single populations. Sometimes population genetic parameters showed contradicting results, although in several cases they indicated recent population expansion of phyloclades. Climatic suitability of localities currently inhabited by salamanders was significantly lower during the LGM compared to recent climate. All data indicated a strong degree of isolation among Lyciasalamandra populations, even within phyloclades. Given the sometimes high degree of haplotype differentiation between adjacent populations, they must have survived periods of deteriorated climates during the Quaternary on the spot. However, the alternative explanation of male biased dispersal combined with a pronounced female philopatry can only be excluded if independent nuclear data confirm this result.

show abstract

Section: Modelling Of Current and Past Species Distributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Range Dynamics During the Quaternarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Phylogeographic analyses point to long-term survival on the spot in micro-endemic Lycian salamanders

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…From such metrics, one can derive stable age distribution, age at maturity, and longevity, all of which strongly influence estimates of population growth rates from viability analyses [57]. Stage-structured organisms pose a real challenge to this end, and as a result, previous studies are largely limited to species without distinct lifestages [22,[58][59][60][61], or for which homogenous data across stages can be collected [25,62]. For all other circumstances, the tendency is to ignore stage-structure or to omit non-conforming data.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Reconciling larval and adult sampling methods to model growth across life-stages

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Individual growth rates are intrinsically related to survival and lifetime reproductive success and hence, are key determinants of population growth. Efforts to quantify age-size relationships are hampered by difficulties in aging individuals in wild populations. In addition, species with complex life-histories often show distinct shifts in growth that cannot be readily accommodated by traditional modelling techniques. Amphibians are often characterized by rapid larval growth, cessation of growth prior to metamorphosis, and resumption of growth in the adult stage. Compounding issues of non-linear growth, amphibian monitoring programs typically sample larval and adult populations using dissimilar methods. Here we present the first multistage growth model that combines disparate data collected across life-history stages. We model the growth of the endangered Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander, Ambystoma bishopi, in a Bayesian framework, that accounts for unknown ages, individual heterogeneity, and reconciles dip-net and drift fence sampling designs. Flatwoods salamanders achieve 60% of growth in the first 3 months of life but can survive for up to 13 years as a terrestrial adult. We find evidence for marked variability in growth rate, the timing and age at metamorphosis, and maximum size, within populations. Average size of metamorphs in a given year appeared strongly dependent on hydroperiod, and differed by >10mm across years with successful recruitment. In contrast, variation in the sizes of emerging metamorphs appeared relatively constant across years. An understanding of growth will contribute to the development of population viability analyses for flatwoods salamanders, will guide management actions, and will ultimately aid the recovery of the species. Our model formulation has broad applicability to amphibians, and likely any stage-structured organism in which homogenous data cannot be collected across life-stages. The tendency to ignore stagestructure or omit non-conforming data in growth analyses can no longer be afforded given the high stakes of management decisions, particularly for endangered or at-risk populations.

show abstract

“…Most of these (sub-) species occupy small ranges and are restricted to habitats that provide access to underground, relatively cool and humid conditions year round. This allows them to escape the arid and hot summer conditions [ 9 , 10 ], but also unfavorable weather conditions during the winter [ 11 ]. Surface activity of these salamanders is restricted to cool and wet weather and at least for coastal populations, most activity is between November and April [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Landscape Connectivity Limits the Predicted Impact of Fungal Pathogen Invasion

Martel

Bogaerts³

et al. 2020

JoF

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Infectious diseases are major drivers of biodiversity loss. The risk of fungal diseases to the survival of threatened animals in nature is determined by a complex interplay between host, pathogen and environment. We here predict the risk of invasion of populations of threatened Mediterranean salamanders of the genus Lyciasalamandra by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans by combining field sampling and lab trials. In 494 samples across all seven species of Lyciasalamandra, B. salamandrivorans was found to be absent. Single exposure to a low (1000) number of fungal zoospores resulted in fast buildup of lethal infections in three L. helverseni. Thermal preference of the salamanders was well within the thermal envelope of the pathogen and body temperatures never exceeded the fungus’ thermal critical maximum, limiting the salamanders’ defense opportunities. The relatively low thermal host preference largely invalidates macroclimatic based habitat suitability predictions and, combined with current pathogen absence and high host densities, suggests a high probability of local salamander population declines upon invasion by B. salamandrivorans. However, the unfavorable landscape that shaped intraspecific host genetic diversity, lack of known alternative hosts and rapid host mortality after infection present barriers to further, natural pathogen dispersal between populations and thus species extinction. The risk of anthropogenic spread stresses the importance of biosecurity in amphibian habitats.

show abstract

Demography and lifetime growth patterns in viviparous salamanders (genus Lyciasalamandra): Living underground attenuates interspecific variation

Cited by 8 publications

References 33 publications

Phylogeographic analyses point to long-term survival on the spot in micro-endemic Lycian salamanders

Phylogeographic analyses point to long-term survival on the spot in micro-endemic Lycian salamanders

Reconciling larval and adult sampling methods to model growth across life-stages

Landscape Connectivity Limits the Predicted Impact of Fungal Pathogen Invasion

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About